Kirikiri Customs Terminal Generates ₦89.2bn Revenue in First Half of 2025

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, has announced that it generated a total revenue of ₦89.2 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a significant increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The impressive revenue growth underscores the command’s ongoing reforms, enhanced operational efficiency, and commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s non-oil revenue drive.

According to the Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Eghosa Edelduok, the surge in revenue was driven by tighter compliance enforcement, improved cargo clearance processes, and the deployment of advanced technologies that have reduced leakages and ensured greater transparency in port operations. She noted that the Command’s dedication to revenue generation aligns with the overall mandate of the Customs Service to fund government projects, enhance national security, and promote trade facilitation.

The ₦89.2 billion revenue achieved between January and June 2025 is said to represent a substantial leap compared to the ₦67.5 billion realised during the same period in 2024. This performance highlights a 32% year-on-year increase, further strengthening the Command’s reputation as one of the most productive terminals under the Nigeria Customs Service.

Comptroller Edelduok attributed the growth to the collective effort of officers and men of the Command, who have intensified anti-smuggling activities while ensuring that importers and agents comply with extant customs laws. She further disclosed that the KLT Command has improved its collaboration with other government agencies at the port, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). This inter-agency synergy has contributed to faster cargo clearance and higher compliance levels among stakeholders.

She explained that the use of digital platforms has also been central to the revenue increase. The automation of cargo documentation and clearance processes has significantly reduced human interface, thereby limiting opportunities for corruption and revenue leakages. Importers and clearing agents, she added, now benefit from quicker turnaround times in documentation and cargo release.

While revenue collection remains a major focus, the Controller emphasised that the Command is also determined to facilitate legitimate trade. She urged importers and agents to comply with customs regulations and ensure that they make honest declarations of their consignments. This, she said, would not only smoothen the clearance process but also help the government in its drive to diversify the economy.

In addition to revenue growth, the Command has recorded notable successes in anti-smuggling operations. Several attempts to smuggle contraband goods, including prohibited items and improperly declared cargo, were intercepted within the first six months of the year. These seizures, according to Edelduok, have safeguarded the economy, protected lives, and boosted the government’s non-oil income.

The Controller also revealed that the Command has been focusing on capacity building for its personnel to ensure that they keep pace with modern trends in customs operations. Training workshops and refresher courses have been organised to equip officers with the necessary skills to operate effectively in a fast-evolving trade environment.

Industry experts have applauded the performance of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command, describing it as a reflection of the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader reforms. They observed that as ports remain a major source of government revenue, efficient management of customs commands like KLT will be vital for Nigeria to meet its fiscal targets, especially at a time when oil revenues remain volatile.

Edelduok reiterated that the Command will not relent in its efforts to meet and surpass its revenue target for the year. She assured stakeholders that the Command would continue to engage constructively with importers, clearing agents, and freight forwarders to ensure compliance with regulations while promoting trade facilitation.

Stakeholders have, however, urged the Command to pay greater attention to issues of port congestion, infrastructure upgrades, and logistics challenges that sometimes hinder the smooth flow of cargo. They advised that addressing these bottlenecks would further boost revenue generation and enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports in West Africa.

Looking ahead, Edelduok expressed optimism that the ₦89.2 billion realised in the first half of 2025 is only a stepping stone toward achieving even greater results by year-end. She emphasised that with sustained reforms, strict compliance, and stakeholder cooperation, the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command is on track to deliver record-breaking revenue for the Nigeria Customs Service in 2025.

In conclusion, the ₦89.2 billion revenue performance of the Kirikiri Customs Terminal in the first half of 2025 not only reflects improved operational efficiency but also underscores the critical role of customs in supporting Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability. As the government intensifies efforts to diversify the economy away from oil, Customs revenue remains a lifeline, and the KLT Command’s impressive record highlights the possibilities achievable through transparency, compliance, and effective trade facilitation.